10 Tips on How to Keep Dogs Cool Outside

Summer is upon us and that means continuously rising temperatures. And while some of us may be inclined to retreat into the cool indoors to avoid the 90-plus degree weather, dogs love the great outdoors and crave exercise no matter the temperature. Despite that, you must know how to keep dogs cool outside to avoid trouble, and there are a few methods (and reasons) to do it.

The trademark zeal for life and fun that dogs are known for is adorable, but it can also get them dangerously close to heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Some dogs will even run and play past their breaking point, not knowing when to stop. Heat stroke is a serious and sometimes fatal condition for dogs, and if not properly prevented or treated, it can cause severe brain damage among other health problems.

Whether it’s a routine jaunt down to their favorite dog park or a week-long camping trip, you should always be aware of the signs that could mean your loyal companion is in danger of overheating. Every year vets warn owners about the hazard of rising temps. Luckily for you both, there are multiple ways and tips on how to keep dogs cool outside, even in the high humidity and heat of Texas. To help you understand these signs, it’s also important to know how the canine manages to beat the heat on a hot day.

How Dogs Regulate Body Temperature

While we regulate our temperature by sweating, the case is not the same for our furry friends. We have sweat glands on multiple surface areas, but for dogs these are only located on their paws and in their ears, and even still the number when compared to ours is small (which is why they resort to panting).

If you’ve ever noticed how your Fido shies or pulls away from you when you touch or hold their paws, it’s likely because this makes them feel extremely vulnerable. It’s also because that is where they regulate their body temperature. The feel of a warm human hand even gently gripping their paw can feel stifling.

In the same light, while cute and kissable, the dog’s wet and shinynose serves an important purpose. When they’re hot and panting excessively, the wetness of their nose acts as a cooling mechanism. The canine body is able to turn the moisture from the nose into cool air while also expelling excess heat through the open mouth. This cooling cycle is efficient but cannot withstand long duration of heat and humidity without placing the dog in danger of stroke.

How to Keep Dogs Cool Outside This Summer

The practice of all or some of these tips on how to keep dogs cool outside will not only ensure that your pup safe this summer, but also allow them to better enjoy quality time with you while on daily walks around the neighborhood in the afternoon, at home in the backyard, or while on vacations away from home.

1. Know the Signs of Overheating or Stroke

Knowing the signs of heat exhaustion in dogs is the most crucial aspect and the best way to ensure how to keep dogs cool outside. Watch out for these symptoms:

Excessive panting

Not wanting to move (followed by or following collapse)

Anxiousness (pacing, whining, ears pulled back)

Fever (Anything over 99.5 – 102.5 could be worrisome, especially when paired with other symptoms on this list)

Dehydration (can be paired with vomiting and/or diarrhea)

Use extra caution if you own a short-snouted canine. Brachycephalic breeds such as Bulldogs, Boxers, French Bulldogs, and even the mighty Cane Corso are more likely to experience heat exhaustion or heatstroke than others.

2. Seek Out a Cool, Comfortable Spots

When camping or hiking with your dog, take breaks often. If you can handle, it doesn’t mean the dog can. Let your pooch sit in the car with you while you have cold AC air blasting until the dog stops panting. If at home, routinely go back indoors and relax before taking up play time again. Additionally, if you can find a nice shady spot at the dog park, call your pup over and have them rest in the shade (for hyperactive breeds or puppies, you may even need to force this behavior because they’re likely to refuse).

3. Transform Your Backyard into a Doggie Oasis

The best tip on how to keep dogs cool outside is to use water and shade. If you have a backyard, invest in a dog pool or a kiddie pool (if you don’t have a proper pool there). You can fill up the pool the night before, so the water is nice and cool the next morning. The cold water will feel wonderful on your dog’s paws but will also offer them hours of entertainment. You can even put on your swimsuit and join them.

If your yard is lacking natural shady trees, then you can make artificial shade by putting up some outdoor umbrellas or even taking the opportunity to practice some curb-appeal and install an awning, or build a pavilion. If you’re into DIY stuff, then not only will you enjoy it, but your dog will certainly appreciate it.

By the same token in terms of how to keep dogs cool outside, you can invest in other supplies like a misting system or a cheaper paddling pool instead of doggy one, or a pet cooling mat. And, of course, make sure your pup’s water bowl is full at all times and not hot in temperature. If you own more than one pet, you may want to use multiple bowls as some food-aggressive dogs can be reluctant about sharing a watering bowl.

4. Pay Attention to Your Pet’s Paws

Cooling off your dog’s paws help to cool the dog’s body as a whole. So when going out for a long hike or a weekend trip to the lake is the most important time to think about how to keep dogs cool outside. Pack a cooler! This will provide you with ice cold water but also ice cubes which can be smoothed over your pup’s paws which will help them cool down. It’s likely they won’t welcome this tactic unless they’re extremely hot so watch for signs of overheating and be gentle when applying.

5. Change Up the Routine

Dogs thrive on a routine and changing it up can actually lead to doggie depression, but only in extreme circumstances. If you don’t already do this, reroute your pet’s walking or playtime routine to mornings and evenings when it isn’t as hot. Avoid walking at the hottest part of the day, usually around 2 or 3 p.m. as this can pose serious heat exhaustion issues. This is the easiest of tips on how to keep dogs cool outside since it requires the least effort. If you have to walk them or let them out at a peak hour, make it a short bathroom walk and certainly don’t jog or instigate running.

6. Be Aware of Paw Blisters

While your pup’s paw pads are like durable built-in shoes, they are still vulnerable to heat. If you’ve ever painfully hopped across white, hot sand on the beach, then you can probably envision what hot surfaces may feel like for your canine companion. In extreme circumstances, the tough skin of their paws can even blister, tearing open. Dog paw care is essential but often forgotten. Healing open wounds on paws is a difficult process – imagine walking around on bandaged, burnt feet.

Avoiding hot surface is one of the ways of how to keep dogs cool outside. You can test if your pet could endure trotting along a hot asphalt or cement by placing your hand – either the back of it or your palm – on a sidewalk. If you can comfortably keep your hand on the surface for 5 seconds or more without it feeling scalding, then your pet is okay to walk on the concrete or pavement. However, if you can’t endure the 5 seconds without cringing or gasping, then you should wait to walk your dog later in the day. Alternatively, you can walk on the grass instead of hot pavement or concrete and this will help keep them nice and cool, too. Using dog booties can also help.

7. Bring ‘Outside Dogs’ Inside

It goes without saying that no dog should be kept outside 24/7. But if you happen to own a dog that you and your family affectionately call an “outside dog”, meaning they typically hang out in your yard by choice, you should consider bringing them indoors during warm months. While your pet may typically prefer being outside, it’s unlikely they enjoy enduring extreme heat (and don’t even know it).

Unfortunately, our furry friends can’t communicate with us. When it comes to how to keep dogs cool outside, its crucial to understand what the dog needs even if he doesn’t show any signs of it. And if you’re waiting for the day that your dog turns to you and says, “Please don’t leave me outside today. It’s so hot,” that day may or may not come.

Instead, trypaying attention to your pet’s non-verbal cues:

panting

over-excitement to come indoors

lack of excitement or reluctance to go outside

a licked-clean water bowl

when in the yard, staying sprawled out in a shady spot

If you or a household member are anxious about leaving the dog unattended in the home, introduce a crate to your lifestyle. These items give Fido a safe space to relax while also keeping them out of anything you probably don’t want them to get into (like the garbage, for instance). Put their favorite blanket or bed in the dog crate as well as a chew toy or two, and add a dog crate cooling fan for summer months. Alternatively, some owners may choose to keep them in a bathroom or utility room (with open door), which isn’t a terrible option especially since both usually have nice, cool tile for them to sprawl out on.

8. Avoid Strenuous Workouts

For many pet owners, the best part about having an animal companion is that they have someone to enjoy exercise with (or someone who motivates them to exercise at all). While most dogs are likely to inherit or adjust to their owner’s lifestyle – a couch potato owner equates to a couch potato pooch – these companion animals still need routine exercise and socialization with other dogs in order to lead a completely happy life.

You know your pet best. An energetic Terrier puppy may need twice – or thrice! – as much energy-exertion when compared to a laid-back 5-year-old Yellow Lab, but there’s a right way to do it and a wrong way. Knowing your pup and what they need to stay in shape mentally and physically doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice playtime when it’s hot, but rather accommodate the warmer weather and know how to keep dogs cool outside in summer when exercise is needed.

This may mean going for your daily jog earlier in the morning or later in the evening instead of in the middle of the day. It could also take the form of cutting off a game of fetch earlier than usual when you notice them panting excessively. As mentioned before, most dogs won’t say no to a good game or frolic in the park so it’s up to you to look out for what’s best and safest for them.

9. Brush Them More Often

Canines will naturally shed their undercoats, which is one of their own answers to how to keep dogs cool during warmer seasons. However, you can help them out with this by brushing your Fido regularly. Washing your dog can help rid of extra hair that needs to be shed but be sure to not bathe them too often as this strips them of natural oils which keep their coat and skin healthy.

If your pet doesn’t have a double coat, take them to the local pet groomer for a cut. However, you should know that no matter the length or thickness of a canine coat, this hair helps them stay both warmer in cold weather as well as cooler in hot weather. You could inadvertently hinder them from staying cool without asking a dog groomer or veterinarian you trust their opinion when it comes to a haircut.

Don’t shave double coats. Breeds known for their double coats are Huskies, Chow Chows, Bearded Collies, Shiba Inus, among others. In fact, even terriers can have double coats which aren’t always long or fluffy like a Malamutes’. If you’re unsure of your mutt’s breed, consult your veterinarian or a dog groomer to find out if they have a double coat or not.

10. Ask Your Vet About Sunburn

The last tip on how to keep dogs cool outside this summer is to consult with a professional. If you have a fair-haired dog or a dog with a thinning coat, it’s possible for them to get sunburn just like us. To keep your pup safe from sunburn, reduce their exposure to direct sunlight. You can also put a dog shirt or better yet a dog cooling vest on them if this helps cover any vulnerable spots. You should also consider making an appointment to talk to your veterinarian about animal-safe sunscreen and any additional tips on how to keep dogs cool outside in summer specifically for your pets.

Rachel is a writer living in Los Angeles and an alum of UNC Chapel Hill. She has been a pet owner since the age of three and began dog-walking in 2015. Her nine-year-old Pug and best pal, Ellie, is the queen of sassy faces, marathon naps, and begging.

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